Stumper?
Woodsman, artwork by Vebjorn Stromenn
Woodsman, artwork by Vebjorn Stromenn Friday, May 1, 2009 Puzzle by Joon Pahk, edited by Will Shortz POL (27A. Stumper?) is as good a short example of a Saturday crossword clue of which one can conjure. Yes, it's not an AXE, and yes, this crossword continues in the same vein -- clues of strained creditability, often opinionated, all for fairly common entries with a few exceptions. The two longest entries, KLEPTOCRACY (7D. Government marked by rampant greed and corruption) and DNA SEQUENCE (26D. Biochemical arrangement), are oddly enough clued in perhaps the most straightforward manner of the lot. The remaining clues for shorter entries seem to be issued by an eroded Sphinx in the desert. What's to say -- it's May day!
A few links, across -- CARJACK; 8. Arms on shoulders, MUSKETS; 17. Like wingdings, FESTIVE; 40. Polar bears, e.g., SEALERS; 46. The appendix extends from it, CECUM; 60. Guy making passes, MATADOR; 64. Stand against a wall, perhaps, ETAGERE. Down: 1. Unisex wear, CAFTAN; 14. Like ferns, SEEDLESS; 31. Tumble and toss about, WELTER; 37. Big name in steelmaking, BESSEMER; 39. Meets near the shore?, REGATTAS; 48. Predecessor of Web forums, USENET; 53. Bad thing to get from your boss, THE AX. Careful!
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